Expand North Star 2025: Dubai’s Role in Digital Entrepreneurship
▼ Summary
– Artificial intelligence was the most represented sector at Expand North Star 2025, with 22% of participating companies specializing in AI.
– The event attracted over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors managing $1.1 trillion in assets, reinforcing its status as the world’s largest startup and investor gathering.
– UAE-based companies had a strong presence with about 500 digital startups, including 116 Emirati-owned enterprises and 50 from the Emaratipreneur initiative.
– Startups from Asia accounted for 41% of participants, with notable participation from India (300 startups) and Brazil (over 50 startups), and new national pavilions from countries like the US and Syria.
– New features like ScaleX, North Star Green Impact, and the Deeptech MEA Summit provided insights into emerging technology trends and startup growth.
Expand North Star 2025 has powerfully underscored Dubai’s emergence as a global nucleus for digital entrepreneurship and advanced technology development. The event wrapped up this week after bringing together top innovators and investors from across the globe, reinforcing its standing as the world’s largest startup and investor gathering. Its unprecedented success spotlights the emirate’s strategic role in fostering the digital economy and creating a vibrant platform for strategic investment partnerships.
A remarkable level of local engagement highlighted the maturation of the UAE’s digital business landscape. Orchestrated by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event drew in over 2,000 startups and more than 1,200 investors controlling assets valued at a staggering $1.1 trillion. Founders from 40 unicorn companies, with a collective valuation of $900 billion, also participated.
UAE-based firms had a notably strong presence, with approximately 500 digital startups calling the country home. This figure included 116 enterprises owned by Emiratis. Another 50 startups took part in the ‘Emaratipreneur’ initiative, showcasing the impactful contributions of a new wave of national innovators. This robust participation reflects both the evolution of the local digital ecosystem and the growing competitiveness of Emirati talent in high-tech sectors.
Geographically, startups from Asia constituted the largest bloc, making up about 41% of all participants. They were followed by companies from Europe, North America, and Latin America. This year also marked the debut of national pavilions from new countries, including the United States, Syria, Ecuador, and Chile, signaling the event’s expanding international reach. Indian participation was particularly substantial, with around 300 startups, while Brazil recorded its largest-ever delegation with over 50 startups.
Artificial intelligence dominated the sectoral breakdown, with 22% of all participating companies specializing in AI technologies. Climate tech firms, operating in energy, agriculture, and food, represented 13% of attendees. Healthtech and fintech each accounted for 11% of the participating startups. Other prominent sectors included education technology, deep tech, advertising technology, mobility, cybersecurity, and smart cities.
The 2025 program was enriched with several new features and specialized zones designed to enhance the visitor experience. These additions included ScaleX, a curated market access program for 50 of the world’s fastest-growing tech scaleups; North Star Green Impact, a new zone dedicated to startups pioneering climate and environmental innovation; the Deeptech MEA Summit; and the Digital Assets Forum. These zones offered attendees valuable perspectives on the emerging technological trends set to define the future of innovation and startup expansion.
The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s pavilion proved to be a major attraction throughout the event. Attendees explored Dubai’s digital business environment and learned about the chamber’s ‘Launchpad Dubai’ program. This initiative provides a comprehensive package of partner services to assist with business establishment and growth in the emirate, including support for obtaining Golden Visas. The pavilion also introduced visitors to the ‘Business in Dubai’ platform, a central component of the chamber’s strategy to attract and empower digital companies.
By building on the outstanding achievements of this year, Expand North Star has cemented its role as a fundamental element of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s broader strategy. This initiative is crucial for advancing Dubai’s vision to become a worldwide capital for innovation and technology. The event consistently acts as a major catalyst for economic growth, drawing the international tech community to Dubai and offering a formidable stage for collaboration and engagement with the industry’s most influential leaders.
(Source: Economy Middle East)
